title: Seagrass meadows globally as a coupled social-ecological system: implications for human wellbeing.
abstract: Seagrass ecosystems are diminishing worldwide and repeated studies confirm a lack of appreciation for the value of these systems. In order to highlight their value we provide the first discussion of seagrass meadows as a coupled social-ecological system on a global scale. We consider the impact of a declining resource on people, including those for whom seagrass meadows are utilised for income generation and a source of food security through fisheries support. Case studies from across the globe are used to demonstrate the intricate relationship between seagrass meadows and people that highlight the multi-functional role of seagrasses in human wellbeing. While each case underscores unique issues, these examples simultaneously reveal social-ecological coupling that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. We conclude that understanding seagrass meadows as a coupled social-ecological system is crucial in carving pathways for social and ecological resilience in light of current patterns of local to global environmental change.
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, 33 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3BA, UK. Electronic address: Cullen-UnsworthLC@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Leanne C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cullen-Unsworth
authors.affiliation: Western Indian Ocean - Community, Awareness, Research, and Environment (WIO CARE), P.O. Box 4199, Zanzibar, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Lina Mtwana
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nordlund
authors.affiliation: Climate Change Consortium of Wales at Cardiff School of Social Sciences and School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paddock
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Social Sciences and Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia.
authors.forename: Len J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.affiliation: Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group, College of Science, Wallace Building, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
authors.forename: Richard K F
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Unsworth
mesh_terms: D035961:Alismatales / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005398:Fisheries; D006801:Humans
keywords: Coupled social–ecological system; Ecological systems; Ecosystem services; Human wellbeing; Seagrass meadows; Social processes